Pokémon (Series) | Pokémon Presents on Feb. 27

[Moonface]

Pokémon Presents Announced for Feb. 27th
This years annual Pokémon Presents broadcast has been announced by Nintendo to air on Thursday, February 27th at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm GMT.

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Well, there's what I expect was the rumored February Nintendo Direct. Besides news on Legends Z-A, I don't really have any other expectations for this. Does anyone think we'll get some major announcement or no?

[shadow]

I keep my expectations low for Pokémon presents since usually we see a ton of mobile news before we get any game info. Still, we'll see. Everyone expects Z-A news and I however don't. I think we'll see Z-A news after the S2 releases I feel. But I'm no insider. 🤷‍♀️

[Mr EliteL]

It's probably mainly Z-A news I'd imagine, then again I don't pay attention enough to their coverage on the mobile side, I mentally switch off then. There could be other news but no clue on what, that app they released some time ago for an update maybe (can't remember what, obviously I don't use it). Doubt I'll even catch the Direct at all, but perhaps I will. Geez, 27th soon already.

[Moonface]

I keep my expectations low for Pokémon presents since usually we see a ton of mobile news before we get any game info. Still, we'll see. Everyone expects Z-A news and I however don't. I think we'll see Z-A news after the S2 releases I feel. But I'm no insider. 🤷‍♀️

Considering that Z-A is also on the Switch 1, there's no reason to keep news about it under wraps until the Switch 2 releases. If anything I could see the game getting released alongside the Switch 2 because that and Mario Kart 9 would be seeing the two biggest sellers kick off Nintendo's next console release and encourage people to upgrade sooner than later from the S1.

[ShiraNoMai]

I could definitely see it also being a launch title, and probably why they've been keeping it under wraps this whole time. I wonder if there will be two releases this year? Last year was the first in a very long time that the company went without a major console release.

[Moonface]

I could definitely see it also being a launch title, and probably why they've been keeping it under wraps this whole time. I wonder if there will be two releases this year? Last year was the first in a very long time that the company went without a major console release.

Hard to say but I doubt it, because there would need to be a good amount of space between the two to prevent one eating into the other. If anything I'd rather not see two games come out in the same year to compensate for the gap year; it would be better for Game Freak and the franchise to let a non-Z-A game come out in the year after Z-A so that more time can be given to the next mainline entry. This series can't continue to operate on yearly releases from the same developer as the hardware gets more powerful and allows for more things which in turn take more time, and the best outcome would be having non-mainline entries fill in the waiting time like what happens with most other Nintendo IP.

[ShiraNoMai]

Well my context comes from the fact that that they will release non-mainline titles during the year in addition to the mainline one; the year Scarlet and Violet came out, Legends Arceus came out early that year. I actually want to say it was just before the Pokemon Day of that year, but I may be misremembering.

The remakes, as of Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, have been offset to a third party team, so I expect that to be the new norm going forward if they want to continue multiple yearly releases still.

TPC will churn out as much money as possible because, number go up ofc, but also, number go up exponentially.

[Moonface]

Well, that was certainly underwhelming. Felt like I was watching a State of Play showcase with how dull that whole thing was.

[Mr EliteL]

It was overall dull I agree, mainly because I have no actual interest in getting any of the games shown. The trailer of Pokémon Masters EX, is that really the models they use for that game, because geez I know it's their art style of the long eyes, but they look awful on an actual 3d model, even if it's just for the trailer and perhaps not in-game. I don't remember Sword/Shield models having eyes like that, thanks goodness.

Z-A not being a launch title but instead late 2025, I suppose they're hoping for big purchases to carry them through the Holiday season instead then.
I didn't mind the look of Z-A at first but rewatching it again it does seem to be lacking somewhat graphics wise, I wasn't expecting something outright amazing though. Battle gameplay being able to move around with your Pokémon is a nice change though, see how well it's received when the game releases. You can help the Pokémon avoid attacks by either command or have them follow you, I suppose it works the other way to trying to direct the attacks to try and estimate where the opponent trainer/Pokémon will move to. Oof to Cyndaquil though, they'd better make it a capturable Pokémon instead of a starter.

[queenzelda]

Can I say I'm happy about the new season of Pokémon Concierge? I really have enjoyed it since the first season. But that's me.

[Moonface]

Z-A not being a launch title but instead late 2025, I suppose they're hoping for big purchases to carry them through the Holiday season instead then.

What says Z-A isn't a Switch 2 launch title? We don't know when that console is coming out yet.

Can I say I'm happy about the new season of Pokémon Concierge? I really have enjoyed it since the first season. But that's me.

Concierge was one of the few things I liked the look of and I need to remember it exists so I can go watch the free episodes on YouTube before they go away.


Speaking of things I liked, the only other thing that caught my attention at all really was Champions. I think what really made this Presents disappointing for me is there wasn't really a "wow" moment or even something cool revealed about Legends Z-A. Could we really not have got to see some new Mega forms or something?

[queenzelda]

I think the mega forms are probably being held close to the chest of Gamefreak until after the Switch 2 releases. Still a part of me thinks the new starter Tepig will def get a mega evolution. (At least it would be logical since most of the starters ended up getting gigatiamax forms in Sw/Sld.)

[Mr EliteL]

OOH, I'm stupid, I for some reason thought the Direct in April was going to be the release, don't know why I assumed that because there'd be a bigger buzz going about if it was.